Reeling system



Jan. 10, 1956 J. s. BAER 2,730,309

REELING SYSTEM Filed OCT.. 29, 1952 4p ATTORNEY REELING SYSTEM .lohn S.Baer, Woodbury, N. J., assigner to Radio Corporation of America, acorporation of Delaware Application October 29, 1952, Serial No. 317,493

9 Claims. (Cl. 242-55) This invention relates to reeling systems, landmore particularly to a control means for such a system.

In automatic accounting apparatus, it has been found convenient to storedata to be used by the apparatus in the form of magnetic pulses on amagnetizable record member such as iron-oxide coated plastic tape. Incertain phases of the handling of such tape, it is necessary that therecord member be started and/or stopped in very short time intervals, onthe order of a very few milliseconds. Tapes of the type mentioned aremost conveniently handled on storage reels. However, because of the massand accompanying inertia of such reels together with similarcharacteristics of their associated driving apparatus, difficulty hasbeen experienced in achieving the required rapidity in the starting andstopping thereof.

To obviate the necessity of utilizing the high-inertia reels, it hasbeen proposed that the tape be stored loosely in bins on either side ofa suitable tape driving unit. But it is anticipated that the tape usedin such a system will be quite long, on the order of 2400 feet.Consequently, each bin must be of suicient size to accommodate substantially the full length of tape, and, therefore, would be quitelarge. Since, in an anticipated record storage installation, a largenumber of such tapes will be used, and since the data stored thereonmust be readily accessible, a correspondingly large number of reelingsystems will be required. In such an installation, the spacerequirements of the system would present a problem.

It is accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide animproved reeling system for tapes characterized in that a minimum spaceis required while maximum convenience is achieved.-

It is another object to'provide an improved control system for reelingsystems of the type set forth.

In accomplishing these and other objects, there has been provided, inaccordance with the present invention, a reeling system wherein the tapeis stored on a pair of reels. Motor means are provided for driving thereels. Separate driving means responsive to any desired control signalsis provided for the tape. Means in accordance with the inventionresponsive to the demand of the tape driving means is provided whichcontrols the reel driving means to maintain preferred tape storageconditions and thereby to permit free feed of tape without inertiaeffects of associated mechanism.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from thefollowing detailed description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a schematic representation showing, in elevation, one form ofreeling system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lineZ-Z of I Fig. 4 is asectional plan view taken along the line `nitecl States Patent -ancingarm 26, is a suitable electric circuit V 2,730,309 Patented Jan. 10,1956 ICC 4 4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a chart showing a relationship between the lack of balance ofthe tape in a pair of receptacles and the energization of a reel drivingmeans.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, there is shown in Figs. land 2 a reeling system embodying the present invention. A rst and secondtape storage reel 2 and 4 respectively are mounted coaxially on a commondriving shaft 6 which extends through a mounting panel 8. The two reels2 and 4 are driven simultaneously by a motor 10 through an electricallyoperated clutch 12 such, for example, as a magnetic clutch. A tapemember 14, which may be a magnetic record tape, passes from one of thestorage reels to the other. The motor 1t) is to be of any knownreversible type having external connections facilitating reversal.Simple and known switching arrangements or relay control may be operatedby the switching means hereinafter referred to as being a part of theillustrative embodiments for reversing the motor.

in its path between the two reels, the tape passes a separate tapedriving unit 16 of a known kind and employed for any desired purpose.The tape driving unit 16 usually drives the tape in response to signalswhich may be some function of the data recorded on the tape. Suitablefunction means (not shown) may be included between the rollers 18 and 20of the tape driving means. The function means may, for example, comprisea set of signal translating heads or any other signal sensing means.

Between the first reel 2 and the tape driving unit 16, the tape forms aslack loop. Another slack loop in the tape is formed between the secondreel 4 and the tape driving unit 16. Since the two reels are alwaysdriven at the same rotational velocity, the combined length of the twoslack loops will be variable from a minimum when substantially all ofthe tape is on one reel to a maximum when the two reels containsubstantially equal amounts of tape. The slack loops on both sides ofthe tape drive unit 16 permits the tape to be rapidly started andstopped without the necessity of overcoming the high inertia of thereels. The minimum length of the loops should be such that the reels 2and 4 can be brought into motion before either of the loops have beencompletely taken up.

In order to prevent the loops in the tape 14 from falling free, with theaccompanying danger of becoming `fouledor tangled, a pair of receptacles22 and 24 are The necessary size of the receptacles may be kept to avminimum if the quantity of tape in one of the receptacles issubstantially the same as the quantity of tape in the other. in otherwords, approximately one-half of the tape that is extending between thereels is in each recep tacle. This is achieved by using a balancingmember or arm 26 which extends in opposite directions from a centralpivot 28. The ends of the arm 26 extend through open ings 30 and 32 intothe receptacles, respectively.

The slack length of tape in each of the receptacles rests on the end ofthe balance arm 26 associated with the respective receptacles. If onereceptacle contains a greater quantity of tape than the other, the endof the balance arm associated therewith will be depressed.

In a position to be actuated by movement of the balcontrolling means,represented in the drawing by a set of suitable switches such asmicro-switches 34 and 36. lt will, of course, be apparent to anyoneskilled in the art that suit- These switches are ar- 3. ranged tocontrol the energization of the reel motor andthe associated clutch. iIn one arrangement, the order of operation of the clutch 12," and themotor 10 is illustrated in Fig, 5. ln the normal position of the balancearm 26'a`s represented by the line N, neither the motor nor the clutchis energized. Each of the switches 34 and S16-comprises two switchingunits and may be a double pole switch which is characterized in thatoneunit or member of the switch closes beforethe other. One of the unitsmay of itself be aA double pole switch to facilitate motor reversal. Asthe balance arm 26. tips either way from the normal position to aposition represented by the line Mi, or M2, the rst member of theappropriate one ofthe switches closes to energize the. motor, thedirection of the tilt of the arm 2.6 will determine the direction` aload is .applied to it. Thus, if there is an excess of tape in thereceptacle Z2, the. tilting of the;balance arm will close the switch 34energizing the motor and the clutch to drive the reels in a clockwisedirection. Of course, if there is an excess of tape in the receptacle 24the motor will be energized to-drive the reels in a counterclockwisevdirection. Thus the system described above will function by repeatedoperations to maintain a substantial equality of the amount of tape inthe two receptacles.

The form of reeling system embodying the invention which is illustratedin Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. l and2 withthe exception that the reels 38v and 40 are mounted in spaced,parallel axes instead of being mounted coaxially as previouslydescribed. There is the further distinction in that each reel isprovided with a separate drive motor 42.and 44, respectively. Thesemotors operate in opposite directions with normal excitation. For thesake of convenience of description, the same reference characters willbe used in Figs. 3 and 4 as was used in Figs. l and 2 for parts whicharesubstantially the same. Each motor is coupled to its associated reelby means of an electrically operable clutch 46 and 48 respectively. Asshown in Fig. 4, the first reel 38 is mounted on a shaft 50'which isconnected to the motor 42 through the clutch 46 and the second reel 40is. mountedon a second shaftSZ which isv connected to the motor 44through thesecond clutch 48.' Mounted on the first shaft 50, betweenthereel and theclutch, is a pulley 5d. Asecond pulley 56 is similarlymounted on the second shaft 52. Thcsepulleys are'eoupled togetherby acoupling belt' in such ay manner that there will be no relative slipbetween the two pulleys; This-may be accomplished by using a notchedbeltand toothed pulleys. With this sort of an arrangement, theA motors neednot be of a reversibletype. Only one motor and the associated clutchneed be energized at any one time. Due to the coupling of the belt 58,when one of the motors and the associate dclutch is energized, bothreelsl will be driven at the same speed and in the'direction determinedby the motor and clutch that is energized. When the balance arm 26 tiltsin the opposite direction the motor that was energized is disconnected,and the other motor is energized and connected to drive bothreels in theopposite direction.

A third form of the apparatus can be arranged inrview of the foregoingdisclosure, similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, wherein only oneroflthe motorsis used, if that motor is of a reversible type, the two reelsbeing simultaneously driven by the coupling belt. Regardless of the formof apparatus employed,` the principles involved are substantially thesame.

Thus it may be seen that there has been provided a reeling system whichprovidesA vthe conveniencev of reel 4. storage for the tape, therapidity of start-stop operation ofl receptacle storage of the tape, andeconomy of space construction cost.

I claim:

l. In a reeling system for a tape member the system including separatetape driving means, in combination, a tirst and second movable tape.storage means, means for imparting movement to said tape storage means,a first and second tape accumulating means associated respectively withsaid first and second tape storage means for receiving a slack length oftape between each of said tape storage means and said tape drivingmeans, means positioned in cooperative association with each of saidtape accumulating, means for determining the relative amount of tape insaid two tape accumulating means, and means responsive to saiddetermining means for con trolling said means for imparting movement tosaid tape storage means.

2. In a reeling system for a tape member and including a signalresponsive tape driving'means, in combination, a irst and. second tapestorage reel, driving means for said reels, a first receptaclepositioned to receive a slacl; length ot tape between said first reeland. said tape driving means, a second receptacle positioned to receivea slack length ot tape between said second reel and said tape drivingmeans, balancingrneans positioned in cooperative association with saidreceptacles for determining the relative quantity of tape in each ofsaid receptacles with respect to each other, and means responsive tosaid balancing means for controllingv said driving means for said reels.

3. In a reeling. system for a tape member and including a signalresponsive tape driving means, in combination, a rst and second tapestorage reel, Saidreeis being mounted coaxially, driving means common toboth of said reels, a first receptacle positioned to receive a slacltlength of tape between said first reel and said tape drivinn means, asecond receptacle positioned to receive a slack length of tape betweensaid second reel and said tape driving means, balancing meansvpositioned in cooperative association with said receptaclesfordetermining thc relative quantity of. film in each of said receptacleswith respect to each other, and means, responsive to movements ot` saidbalancingmeans for controlling said driving means for said reels.

4. In a reeling system for a tape member and insinding a signalresponsive tape driving means, in combination a first and second tapestorage reel, said reels being mountedon spaced, parallel axes, drivingmeans for said reels, a rst receptacle positioned to receive a vslacklength of tape between said irst'reel and said tape driving means asecond receptacle positionedto receive a slack length of tape betweensaid second reel andsaid tape driving meanebalancingmeans positioned incooperative associationwithA said receptacles for; determining therelative quantity of tape' in each of said receptacles with respect toeach other, and meansresponsive to movements ot said balancing means forcontrolling said driving means for said reels.

5t Ina reeling system for a tape member and including a signalresponsive tape driving member, in combination, a first and second tapestorage reel, driving means [or said reels, said driving means includingan electric motor and an. electrically operable clutch, a tirstreceptacle positioned to receive a slack length of tape between said rstreel and Said tape driving means, a second receptacle posiv tioncd toreceive a slack length of tape between said sec- 0nd reel and saidtapedriving means, balancing means positioned in cooperative associationwith said receptacles for determining the relative quantity of tape ineach of said receptacles with respect to each other, and meansrcsponsive to said, balancing means for controlling the cnergization ofsaid clutch and said motor.

6. In a reeling system for a tape member and including a signalresponsive tape driving means, in combination, a first anlsecondtapestorage reel, said reels being mounted on spaced, parallel axes, drivingmeans for each of said reels, each of said driving means including amotor and an electrically operable clutch, a rst receptacle positionedto receive a slack length of tape between said irst reel and said tapedriving means, a second receptacle positioned to receive a slack lengthof tape between said second reel and said tape driving means, balancingmeans positioned in cooperative association with said receptacles fordetermining the relative quantity of tape in each of said receptacleswith respect to each other, and means responsive to said balancing meansselectively controlling the energization of said clutches and saidmotors.

7. In a reeling system for a tape member, in combination, a tape drivingmeans, a first and second tape storage reel, driving means for saidreels, a irst and second receptacle associated respectively with saidfirst and second reels for receiving a slack length of tape between eachof said reels and said tape driving means, means positioned incooperative association with each of said receptacles for determiningthe relative amount of tape in each of said two receptacles with respectto each other, and means responsive to said determining means forcontrolling said reel driving means.

8. In a reeling system for a tape member, in combination, a tape drivingmeans, a first and second tape storage reel, driving means for saidreels, said driving means including an electric motor and anelectrically operable clutch, a rst receptacle positioned to receive aslack length of tape between said first reel and said tape drivingmeans, a second receptacle positioned to receive a slack length of tapebetween said second reel and said tape driving means, baiancing meanspositioned in cooperative assfrciation with said receptacles fordetermining the relative quantity of tape n each of said receptacleswith respect to each other, and electric circuit controlling meansresponsive to said balancing means for controlling the energization ofsaid clutch and said motor.

9. In a reeling system for a tape member, in combination, a tape drivingmeans, a rst and second tape storage reel, said reels being mounted onspaced, parallel axes, driving means for each of said reels, each ofsaid driving means including an electric motor and an electricallyoperable clutch, a first receptacle positioned to receive a slack lengthof tape between said rst reel and said tape driving means, a secondreceptacle positioned to receive a slack length of tape between saidsecond reel and said tape driving means, balancing means positioned incooperative association with said receptacles for determining therelative quantity in each of said reels with respect to each other, andelectric circuit controlling means responsive to said balancing meansfor selectively controlling the energization of said clutches and saidmotors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,658,372 De Moos Feb. 7, 1928 2,499,895 Walker Mar. 7, 1950 2,632,059Camras Mar. 17, 1953

